Indonesia Accords Priority To Pharma Industry

May 16, 2019

Information technology (IT), pharmaceuticals, healthcare and education are sectors Indonesia has identified for growing the engagement with India, Indonesian Consul General in Mumbai Ade Sukender said here on Wednesday.

In doing so, Indonesia sought to draw on the expertise of India, an approach that assumes significance in the backdrop of the ambitious goal the two countries had set last year to more than double the bilateral trade by 2025.

“These sectors should be explored further,” is an advisory from Indonesia to the Mission in India, Mr. Sukender said. This is to be achieved by having more interactions with the Indian business community, he said at an interaction.

Besides these sectors, Indonesia was keen on importing more rice, sugar, bovine meat, something that was highlighted by Kumara Jati, Director of Indonesian Trade Promotion Centre in Chennai, who, along with a few other officials, was present during the interaction.

The Consul General said Indonesia was according top priority to development of the pharma industry as well as the healthcare sector, towards which it is open to collaborations. Highlighting the growth opportunities that existed in Indonesia for Indian IT firms, he said a few of the firms were already working on different projects in the area of banking and e-payment services. An Indonesian mobility solution provider had also set up an office in Bengaluru with around 200 engineers, he added.

Elaborating on the scope for Indian companies to set up operations, Director of Indonesia Investment Promotion Centre in Abu Dhabi D. Rizky Novihamzah said the Indonesian government had eased the process of the approvals for investors with an online submission mechanism that aimed at integrating the licensing mechanism of 20 ministries. For Indian IT companies, factors that would drive their growth in Indonesia included 50% of the 267 million population of Indonesia having access to internet and a fast developing start-up eco-system.

Mr. Sukender expressed the confidence that the $50 billion bilateral trade target was achievable by 2025. The bilateral trade was around $18 billion and in favour of Indonesia. “From Indonesian side, we want to see more commodities exported to India, beyond coal and palm oil that dominate the basket. For Indian companies seeking to explore the opportunities in Indonesia, the 34th annual Trade Expo scheduled to be held in Jakarta this October could serve as springboard, he added.

On tourism, he said the number tourists from India to Indonesia last year was nearly six lakh and expected to increase with the proposed launch of air connectivity between the two countries.

Later, he addressed a meeting of members of the Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry. – The Hindu